PACIFIC SOUP: OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, AND STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

Returning home through the North Pacific Gyre after competing in the Transpac sailing race in 1997, Charles J. Moore came upon a vast stretch of floating debris. His unfortunate discovery has since been dubbed the ‘Great Pacific Rubbish Patch’, a gyre of marine litter in the central North Pacific Ocean; estimates range from 250,000 square miles (the size of Texas) to 6 million square miles (10% of the entire pacific ocean), whilst recent studies have found six times more plastic than plankton.

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BRITAIN HIT WITH DROUGHT WARNING

Environment Secretary Caroline Spellman has called an urgent meeting of farmers, water companies and wildlife groups to discuss the impending drought threatening southeast England, the East Midlands and East Anglia.

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Tiger Farms feed the appetites for those desiring their hides and bones.

Across China, tigers are increasingly being bred for their hides and bones. Their bones are of increasing demand as they are turned into various medicines and ‘tonic’ wines. It is thought that, in China, there are now between 5,000 and 10,000 tiger farms which have bred more than 5,000 tigers - more than there are currently in the wild.

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WIBBLE WOBBLE, JELLY IN A LAKE

The thought of swimming in a lake packed full of millions of jellyfish isn’t one that most people would jump at, but what if you were guaranteed not to be stung?

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Marine Conservation Society backs plan to ban Chinese lanterns in the UK

Chinese sky lanterns (or flying Chinese lanterns) which use hot air from a flame to float a paper structure have been traditionally released to bring good luck and prosperity over thousands of years. Many Asian countries, most notably Thailand, commonly use sky lanterns in celebrations and other special occasions.

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Javan Slow Loris- a poisonous primate

The Javan slow loris is found in South Asia and is the only primate that is poisonous. The slow loris produces a pungent, thick brown oil like substance from a gland under their arms which when mixed with their saliva creates a deadly venom. This cuddly creature is currently classified as endangered on the IUCN (International Union for conservation of Nature) and is rapidly being driven to extinction by the pet trade and habitat loss.

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WHY THE ZEBRA GOT ITS STRIPES

For decades, both adults and children alike have mused over the striking pattern of the zebra’s stripes. Recent research published in the Journal of Experimental Biology has now added further fuel to the debate by revealing an alternative hypothesis to this evolutionary marvel.

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Ingestion and indigestion of plastic in turtles

Many marine turtles have been found to consume plastic debris items, often mistaking it for food items. The most common example of this is the consumption of plastic bags, which look and move like jellyfish in water, the most common (and in some cases exclusive) food item in the diet of marine turtles.

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INVASIVE HALEQUIN SPECIES FORCES THE LADYBIRD OUT

Scientist’s findings have recently shown that a rapid decline in Ladybirds native to the UK and other European countries is being caused by the invasive harlequin species as it spreads.

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Lake Vostok- a lost world

You may be delighted to hear that there is an area on Earth that remains un-spoilt by humans, which in this day and age, is incredibly rare. Many ecosystems have in some way, been imprinted on by humans and so news of a hidden, ‘untouched’ lake lying beneath the Antarctica ice sheet is extremely welcome. Lake Vostok lies beneath 4km of ice and has been secluded from the rest of the planet for over 20 million years.

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